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James And Beatrice Salah Charitable Trust (The Salah Foundation)

Annual Giving
$4.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $10.0M
Decision Time
2mo

James And Beatrice Salah Charitable Trust (The Salah Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.4 million (charitable disbursements 2023)
  • Total Assets: $107.26 million
  • Grant Range: Varies widely; from $1,000 individual family grants to $10 million (Broward Health Children's Hospital)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$49,500
  • Geographic Focus: United States only
  • Application Process: Invitation only - no unsolicited applications accepted
  • Decision Timeline: 1-3 months for evaluation cycle

Contact Details

  • Website: www.salahfoundation.org
  • Executive Director: Noreen Salah Burpee
  • Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Note: The foundation does not publish direct contact information (phone/email) on their website. Inquiries should be directed through their website.

Overview

The James And Beatrice Salah Charitable Trust, operating as The Salah Foundation, was founded in 2010 and received tax-exempt status in 2011. The foundation was created through the generosity and lifelong success of James M. Salah, a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Lebanon. Since inception, the foundation has distributed over $80 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across the United States. Under the leadership of Noreen Salah Burpee, Executive Director and niece of the founder, the foundation operates with approximately $107 million in assets. The guiding philosophy is to provide "a hand up not a hand out," focusing on programs that strengthen families and communities while advancing individuals toward becoming productive, responsible citizens. The foundation has received recognition including an Outstanding Foundation Honoree designation, and James Salah was a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation funds specific programs across multiple categories:

  • Medical Research: Supporting breakthrough research at institutions like UCSF, Mayo Clinic, and NYSCF
  • Mental Health: Therapy and support services for trauma survivors
  • Veteran Services: Suicide prevention networks (The Fire Watch), rehabilitation programs
  • Early Childhood Education and Mentoring: School readiness programs, ACE Scholarships
  • Education in Arts/Culture: Plymouth Philharmonic, Denver Center for Performing Arts, Broward Center
  • Innovation in Health Sciences: Stem cell research, AI-driven precision medicine
  • Differently Abled Solutions: Firefly Autism Center, Anchor Center for Blind Children
  • Human Trafficking Elimination: Love146 prevention curriculum
  • Social Services: Food banks, homeless services, disaster relief
  • Animal Welfare: Pasadena Humane, CARE spay/neuter programs
  • First Responder Assistance: Firefighter Cancer Initiative, COVID-19 PPE support

Major Investments Include:

  • $10 million to Salah Foundation Children's Hospital at Broward Health (125-bed acute care facility)
  • $450,000 to ACE Scholarships (180 students over multiple years)
  • $200,000 to Global Down Syndrome Foundation
  • $50,000 matching grant to United Way of Broward County's MISSION UNITED

Priority Areas

  • Programs with measurable outcomes and demonstrable impact
  • Organizations that create "healthy, productive, safe and responsible families and communities"
  • Initiatives advancing breakthrough solutions in health, science, education, and human/animal rights
  • Projects serving economically disadvantaged populations, youth, elderly, and disabled individuals

What They Don't Fund

  • Start-ups
  • International programs
  • General operating/overhead costs
  • Marketing campaigns
  • Unsolicited grant requests

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

  • Noreen Salah Burpee - Executive Director ($275,000 compensation). Niece of founder James M. Salah, she serves as the guiding force managing the foundation's impact work and nationwide change management initiatives.
  • Frank Ronald Mastriana - Trustee ($300,000 compensation)
  • Advisory Board Members - Multiple members at $50,000 each

Leadership Philosophy: The Executive Director has stated: "The philosophy of the Salah family has always been that one cannot take from this world without giving back." The foundation describes itself as "not just a check writing Foundation but a partner in performance," emphasizing long-term partnerships with quality nonprofits rather than transactional giving. The board commits to following grant funding and actively measuring outcomes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The Salah Foundation operates a targeted grant process where select organizations are invited to apply. Organizations cannot submit applications unless they have been specifically invited by the foundation.

For organizations that are invited, the process includes a five-step evaluation:

  1. Initial Interview/Site Visit - Assessment of organizational growth plans
  2. Proposal Brief/Pre-Funding Form - Program definition and budget outline
  3. Grant Application - Detailed review with required documentation (Form 990, audited financials, P&L statements)
  4. Grant Decision - Approval or denial notification
  5. Progress Report - Conducted 12 months post-award to evaluate impact and fund management

Online Portal: Applications are processed through Foundationsource.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following specific intelligence may be helpful:

  • Board Connections: The foundation appears to identify potential grantees through board member networks and professional relationships in the nonprofit sector
  • Geographic Presence: Strong focus on organizations in Florida (particularly Broward County), Massachusetts, Colorado, California, and areas where they have existing partnerships
  • Sector Conferences: The foundation actively supports organizations in medical research, education, and social services - visibility in these sectors through established networks may lead to invitation
  • Grantee Network: Current and past grantees include major institutions like Mayo Clinic, UCSF, Holy Cross Health, and United Way chapters - relationships with these organizations could provide referral pathways
  • Publicity Policy: The foundation permits grantees to publicly acknowledge their support (though not dollar amounts), suggesting they may discover new organizations through grantee networks and media coverage

Decision Timeline

  • Complete evaluation cycle: 1-3 months from initial contact to decision
  • Progress reports required 12 months post-award

Reapplication Policy

The foundation notes that "Receiving a grant is no guarantee of future funding," indicating they evaluate each funding cycle independently. Multi-year grants are awarded to some organizations, suggesting strong performers may receive continued support.

Application Success Factors

Specific Guidance from the Foundation:

  • "Spell out the need and be very specific on why you are applying and what you are applying for."
  • "We want to know exactly how you will use the grant money."
  • "Less is more. While it is your time to brag, we want short, powerful pitches that are convincing without being verbose."

What the Foundation Values:

  • Program Specificity: Grants target specific programs or projects, not general operations
  • Measurable Impact: Clear articulation of success metrics and how funding addresses identified gaps
  • Return on Investment: Demonstration of how the grant will create tangible change
  • Performance Partnership: Organizations should be prepared for ongoing engagement and 12-month progress reporting
  • Mission Alignment: Focus on "a hand up not a hand out" - programs that build self-sufficiency rather than dependency

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • Holy Cross Health's Heart Failure Clinic renovation achieved a 13% readmission rate (well below national average)
  • Craig Hospital's School Program for teens continuing education during rehabilitation
  • Museum of Discovery and Science's kindergarten readiness program serving 3,500 children
  • CARE's spay/neuter program sponsoring 756 surgeries
  • Love146's "Not a Number" human trafficking prevention curriculum with multi-year external evaluation

Red Flags to Avoid:

  • Vague program descriptions without specific outcomes
  • Requests for general operating support or overhead
  • Start-up organizations without track record
  • International programs (US only)
  • Marketing-focused initiatives

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Invitation-Only Process: Do not submit unsolicited applications - focus on becoming visible to the foundation through sector leadership, partnerships with current grantees, and demonstrated impact in their priority areas

  2. Measurable Outcomes are Essential: The foundation follows up at 12 months to evaluate impact. Be prepared to document and demonstrate concrete results from any funding received

  3. Short and Specific: The foundation explicitly requests brief, powerful pitches. Avoid verbose proposals - focus on clear problem statements, specific solutions, and measurable success metrics

  4. Program Funding Only: General operating support and overhead costs are explicitly excluded. Structure requests around specific programs or projects

  5. Geographic Opportunity: While national in scope, the foundation has strong concentrations in Florida (particularly Broward County), Massachusetts, and Colorado - organizations in these areas may have heightened visibility

  6. Partnership Mindset: The foundation sees itself as a "partner in performance" - be prepared for site visits, ongoing engagement, and accountability rather than a one-time transaction

  7. Long-Term Relationship Potential: Multi-year grants are awarded to strong performers (e.g., ACE Scholarships received $450K since 2014) - initial grants can lead to sustained partnerships

References

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